Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
“Oh my God,” I sob, turning into Kane’s body and hugging him as I try to hold myself together by holding onto him.
“You’re sure?” Kane questions.
“Absolutely,” Webber replies.
“Then tell us everything we need to do and we’ll do it.”
“I’ll send you an email with all the details of her social worker, he’s waiting for your call, all the things I know the state will want to see in order to deem you fit to parent.”
“Fit to parent,” Poppy growls, “Do they not understand that this is their kid?”
Webber shuffles, making the phone crackle. “Of course they do, but this isn’t as simple as their kid going missing and being returned. She doesn’t know you from Adam. She’s been abandoned and she remembers it, that shit stays with you, she’s got friends and a life there and from what I’m hearing a very close bond with some of her carers. The state can’t just rip her away and put her with strangers, that’s not how it works. This has to be handled delicately.”
“We understand,” I utter because as hard as it is to accept, I really do understand. “When can we meet her?”
“Soon as you call her social worker, his name’s David Michaelson, he’ll set you up with a meeting and talk you through everything else.” Webber chuckles, a happy sound. “Don’t stress guys, any judge worth their shit will see how much love you guys have for your kid, and I will personally speak for you. Ain’t got nothing bad to say.”
“Webber.” I inhale and exhale. “Thank you.”
“Shit, don’t thank me. Not for this. Did my duty and failed you for eight years, still kicking myself over that missed email account.”
“Naw,” Kane snaps, “If you blame yourself for that I gotta blame myself for never finding Immy. Shit happens. We miss things. It’s all workin’ out.”
“Hell yeah it is,” Poppy cheers and her beaming smile shines on us all. “This is so exciting!”
“I’m gonna leave y’all to it,” Webber states, “got a ton of other cases to work on. If you need anything, you call. Email should have hit your inbox by now.”
I thought Kane moved fast before, but he snatches up my phone and looks for my email app before I can even think about getting to it.
Seeing him read that email and dial that number without hesitation tells me just how much Kane Jessop loves his kid. Part of me knows I couldn’t blame him if he hated me for the rest of his life for what I kept from him, but a bigger part of me knows that Kane Jessop understands stupid decision making and has forgiven me despite the fact I haven’t asked him for it yet.
“It’s all gonna work out,” Poppy insists, rubbing my back as I listen to the feint dial tone.
“It really is,” I breathe.
“Hello?” a male voice questions and Kane breathes a sigh of relief.
“Is this David Michaelson?” Kane questions, his voice commanding and gruff and I pull the phone away from his ear so I can press the loudspeaker icon.
“It sure is, can I ask who is calling?” His voice fills the room just like Webber’s did and my heart swells in my chest from the excitement and adrenaline.
“It’s Kane Jessop, Webber sent us your details.”
“Ah, yes! Connie’s biological parents.” He sounds so happy to hear from us. “I’ve been so excited for your call. It’s not often these days that we get such a happy outcome.”
“You sound so sure of that.”
“Because you’re her parents,” he says around a laugh. “I’m not in the business of separating families or keeping them separated. I’m going to be the one to bring you all back together and that is exactly why I signed up for this job.”
He sounds so confident. I’m glad he does, I don’t feel it. This all feels way too good to be true.
“What do we need to do to meet her?”
“Nothin’, I’m gonna come and assess your situations. With her bein’ older and having the difficulties she has, I need to ensure that the people coming into her life, parents or not, have her best interests at heart.”
“Of course,” I agree because he’s one hundred percent right.
“So I’ll come and see y’all when you’re available. We’ll talk through what’s gonna happen with Connie and where you want her to live, and what I think is best for her in terms of schooling and what needs to happen with y’all. But don’t worry about any of that. I’m not a dictator, I’m not here to judge, I’m just here to guide you all to the right place so Connie can come home. That is the goal. That is, right now, my only goal.”
Damn he can talk for America, but I do appreciate what he’s saying.
“So if we set up a meeting and then after we’ve spoken we will introduce you to Connie on a supervised basis.”